Indian Football Club Kerala Blasters FC announced their new Brand Ambassador and he is not a Footballer. Indian Cricketer Sanju Samson ties his ropes with the Football Club on Monday. He could make his first appearance as the brand ambassador on February 26, when the club faces Hyderabad FC in its last game of the season.

Sanju Samson is the Local lad of Kerala. He represents Rajasthan Royals as a Captain In Indian Premier League. Samson is an Inspiration in Kerala and also in the Country among Men & Women. He will now represent the values of KBFC on and off the field.

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Sanju expressed his excitement at the appointment and said, "As my father was a professional football player, football has always been a sport close to my heart. I am honored to be the brand ambassador of Kerala Blasters FC. The club has done so much since its inception to bring back the glory of football to this state. In the process, they have built and cultivated one of the most loyal fanbases in the country. I can't wait to watch a match at the Kaloor stadium with the fans and support the team."

"Sanju is a national icon, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the KBFC family," said Nikhil Bharadwaj, Director, of Kerala Blasters FC

He also added- "In this ambassadorial role, we look forward to working with Sanju to amplify the club's grassroots & community initiatives, and fan events, and share his passion for the club and game".

The Indian Premier League is just around the corner with the tournament set to start on 22 March.

As usual, it is highly anticipated and is set to draw a huge viewing audience.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Which player has lost the most games in IPL history?

As we move towards the first fixture, between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, let’s take a moment to go back in time and see which batsmen have scored the most runs in IPL since 2018.

Most Runs in IPL (2018-2024)

8. Suryakumar Yadav | 2986 Runs

Suryakumar Yadav had his IPL debut in 2011 for MI. But he got his breakthrough in KKR under Gautam Gambhir but didn't perform up to that level. 2018 saw him return to the Mumbai Indians, where he made massive strides in his IPL career.

Surya has scored 2986 runs during this period in 84 games at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate of 148.71. He has two centuries and 23 half-centuries to his name. He struck 440 boundaries, including 331 fours and 109 sixes.

In 2023, he had his greatest IPL season, where he was appointed as the vice-captain of MI along with scoring 605 runs with a strike rate of 181.14 in 16 innings.

7. Sanju Samson | 2993 Runs

Rajasthan Royals' skipper and wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has always been a player to rely on in the IPL. He has scored 2993 runs during the 2018-2024 season with two centuries and 18 half-centuries.

IPL 2024 was one of the best seasons for Samson with the bat as he amassed 531 runs at an impressive average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46. He also led the team to the playoffs for the second time after taking over the reins in IPL 2021.

6. Jos Buttler | 3055 Runs

Jos Buttler comes sixth in the list scoring 3055 runs in 73 matches at an average of 41.85 and a strike rate of 147.80. He has seven centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name.

Buttler had an unforgettable 2022 season, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 863 runs at an average of 57.53 and a blistering strike rate of 149.05.

The England star smashed four centuries and four half-centuries, playing a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ journey to the final. His ability to accelerate and play match-winning innings made him one of the standout performers of the season.

5. Shikhar Dhawan | 3208 Runs

Shikhar Dhawan is fifth on the list of most runs in IPL since 2018. He has been a consistent run-getter over this period, crossing the 400-run mark each season from 2018 to 2024. 

Dhawan has 3208 runs in 83 games at an average of 38.65 and a strike rate of 133.56, including 2 hundred and 23 half-centuries, with the help of 367 fours and 82 sixes. 

His best season came in 2020 when he made 618 runs with 2 hundred and 4 fifties. 

4. Shubman Gill | 3216 Runs

Shubman Gill made his IPL debut in 2018 season and scored 3216 runs so far in 85 matches at an average of 37.84 and a strike rate of 135.70. 

Gill was the leading run-scorer of IPL 2023, amassing 890 runs in 17 matches at an impressive average of 59.33. His strike rate of 157.80 included 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries, with a highest score of 129. He also smashed 85 fours and 33 sixes throughout the tournament.

Gill’s heroics helped Gujarat Titans reach the 2023 final, making him a player to watch for many seasons to come.

3. Faf du Plessis | 3276 Runs

Faf Du Plessis, who guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the playoffs last season, has the most runs in IPL during 2018-2024 period. He has scored 3276 runs in 84 matches at an average of 39.01 and a strike rate of 140.04.

He was also sensational with the bat as he scored 438 runs in 2022 season. It came after a brilliant run with the bat in 2023 when he scored over 700 runs for RCB.

Prior to his stint with Bangalore, Du Plessis enjoyed a highly successful tenure with the Chennai Super Kings, winning IPL titles in 2018 and 2021. 

The Proteas batter boasts an impressive record in the overall tournament, scoring 4,571 runs in 145 matches, including 37 half-centuries.

Also Read: Most Wickets in IPL history

2. Virat Kohli | 3586 Runs

Despite Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s struggles in recent seasons, Virat Kohli continued to shine with the bat in every season. He amassed 3586 runs since 2018 season at an average of 40.29 and a strike rate of 134.7, reminding everyone why he is one of the greatest batsmen in T20 cricket.

Kohli has four centuries and 25 half-centuries to his name. His IPL career has seen him hit 339 fours and 163 sixes during this period.

Kohli also scored the most runs in IPL in history with 8004 runs in 252 matches, including 8 centuries and 55 fifties.

1. KL Rahul | 3958 Runs

KL Rahul has hammered 3,958 runs in 79 matches since the start of IPL 2018. He has scored the most runs in IPL this period. 

The tally includes four tons and 33 fifties. Rahul is the only batter to slam 3,000-plus IPL runs in this period. Shikhar Dhawan (3,208), the only other batter to score 2,500-plus since IPL 2018, follows Rahul on this tally.

Following a tight contention in the league stage to seal passage into the Indian Super League 2024-25 knockout phase, six teams have secured their appearance for the playoffs.

The league stage of 2024-25 ended with a dead-rubber game on Wednesday as Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.

Mumbai City FC triumphed 2-0 over Bengaluru on Tuesday in their final league stage encounter this season, becoming the sixth team to book their tickets to the playoffs.

AND THEN THERE WERE 6️⃣! ✅#TheIslanders complete the #ISLPlayoffs puzzle, securing back-to-back qualification under #PetrKratky! 💪🔥#BFCMCFC #ISL #LetsFootball #MumbaiCityFC | @JioHotstar @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/61ZIAxs4J5

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 11, 2025

This article offers you everything you need to know about the ISL 2024-25 Playoffs Fixtures and Format.

ISL 2024-25 Playoffs: Teams qualified

Mohun Bagan Super Giant became the first team to qualify for the ISL 2024-25 playoffs after achieving a 1-0 victory against Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata last month.

The Mariners successfully defended their ISL League Shield as well, becoming the first-ever team in ISL history to achieve this feat, having earned a record 56 points in 24 matches.

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FC Goa were the second team to qualify for the playoffs, securing their spot after a 2-0 win against Kerala Blasters last month. The Gaurs guaranteed the second place in the standings with 48 points in 24 games, ensuring their direct entry to the semi-finals.

Bengaluru FC were the third team to reach the playoffs, following a 1-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC in February. The Blues finished the regular season in third place, having gathered 38 points in 24 matches.

Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United FC also booked their places in the playoffs. NorthEast United FC secured the fourth spot with 38 points in 24 games, whereas Jamshedpur FC finished in fifth place with the same points, but fell short in the goal difference.

The sixth and final playoff spot was clinched by Mumbai City FC, with 36 points in 24 games following a 2-0 victory against Bengaluru FC in the final match of the regular season.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩! 🎬

The #ISL 2024-25 League Stage comes to close as #Mariners takes the top spot! 🔥#LetsFootball | @JioHotstar @StarSportsIndia @eastbengal_fc @HydFCOfficial @MohammedanSC pic.twitter.com/4hFiQt7ZOS

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 12, 2025

Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC all finished with 38 points after 24 games. For teams that have the same number of points, their head-to-head record is considered first. If their head-to-head results are tied at 1-1 or if they have drawn, then goal difference is taken into account. 

According to this rule, Bengaluru FC had a win and a draw against Northeast United FC, which is why they are ranked above. Jamshedpur FC also has the points as Bengaluru and NorthEast, but their head-to-head record is lower, which is why they are placed below the other two.

ISL Playoffs Format

The top six teams from the league stage qualify for the playoffs, with the top two teams ensuring a direct place in the two-legged semi-finals. 

Additionally, the team that finishes at the top of the table after the league stage wins the League Shield and secures a place in the group phase of the AFC Champions League Two. 

The four teams that finish in the third to sixth positions will compete for a spot in the semi-finals through a playoff round. Notably, the playoffs are decided in a single-legged knockout game which is played in the home ground of the team that finished higher on the leaderboard.

To award some deserving advantage to the third and fourth placed teams in the league stage, the third-placed team takes on the sixth-placed side, whereas the fourth-placed and fifth-placed team meet in the other playoff.

The winners of the play-offs will advance to the semi-finals and will compete against the first two teams for a place in the ISL 2024-25 Final.

ISL 2024-25 Playoffs Fixtures

Pending an official confirmation, ISL 2024-25 playoffs are likely to be played on March 29 and 30, whereas the semifinals are scheduled for the first week of April.

According to reports, the first legs of the semi-finals are supposed to be played on April 2 and 3; and the return legs will take place on April 6 and 7, respectively.

However, here are the confirmed match-ups in the ISL 2024-25 Playoffs.

*pending further confirmation

Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of the Indian Super League 2024-25. Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the most crucial encounter of the last match-week between Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru FC have already qualified for the play-offs, currently positioned fourth with 38 points in 23 matches. On the other hand, Mumbai City FC need to earn a point tonight to secure their qualification, as they are in the seventh position, having accumulated 33 points in 23 matches.

Tonight, both teams will take the field for their last league stage outing for the 2024-25 season. So, sit back and enjoy the match as Sportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scores

Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of the Indian Super League 2024-25. This evening, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the thrilling encounter between NorthEast United FC and East Bengal FC at the  Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

NorthEast United are currently positioned fifth on the leaderboard with 35 points in 23 games. On the total contrary, East Bengal are positioned eighth, having earned 28 points in 23 matches.

This evening, both teams will take the field for the last league stage game of the 2024-25 season. However, the Highlanders will look to progress on the league table, whereas the Red and Gold Brigade have nothing to lose, as they are already out of the qualification race.

 So, sit back and enjoy the match as Sportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scores.

The 2025 edition of the AIFF Super Cup will be hosted at Bhubaneswar in Odisha, likely in the second week of April. The event is the premier annual Indian football cup tournament, and this will be the second consecutive Super Cup tournament in the state of Odisha.

AIFF have also announced the tentative dates for the competition to be planned between April 18 and 27, but the official confirmation is yet to arrive.

East Bengal FC are the defending champions, having defeated the hosts, Odisha FC, in the final of the 2024 edition. 

AIFF confirms the venue and tentative dates for Super Cup 2025

This will be the fifth edition of the tournament and is open to the two top divisions of Indian football, featuring the Indian Super League and the I-League, respectively.

The Super Cup replaced the Federation Cup in 2018, and three of the last four editions have taken place in Bhubaneswar.

In 2024, the tournament was a 16-team competition and featured all 12 teams from the Indian Super League and four teams from the I-League. It started with the group stage and progressed to a 4-team knockout tournament.

Although the format and the final dates of the 2025 edition of this tournament are yet to be announced, there are speculations of changing the format in the upcoming editions. The winner of this tournament will also qualify for the qualifiers of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two, the second division of the Asian club football competition.

⚽ The 2025 Super Cup is heading back to Bhubaneswar, Odisha! 🏆🔥

Reports suggest that India's premier club football tournament will take place in the second week of April, marking Odisha’s second consecutive year as host.

Can East Bengal FC defend their title, or will a new… pic.twitter.com/BBqblni4Gj

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) March 5, 2025

The winner of this competition will join Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the continental competition, who have already qualified for the group stage of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League, by winning the Indian Super League 2024-25 Shield.

Anilkumar Prabhakaran, the General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said the following to Sportstar:

Yes, the tournament will happen in Bhubaneswar, but the other details (exact dates and format) have not been decided yet. It will be finalised in the next few days